Well, the fact that he's playing behind 5 legit NFL prospects on the OL makes looking at stats sort of misleading.

But the reason I wouldn't take him in the first round is the lack of long speed. If I'm spending a first round pick on a non-premium position, I want that guy to be a difference maker, and for an RB that involves hitting home runs from time to time when you get to the open field. Lacey's a solid singles hitter (he'll get you the yardage that's blocked), but he's not going to run away from people in the open field or make people miss in space so I wouldn't spend a first on him. First round picks are really valuable, and RB is a non-premium position so if I'm spending a first round pick on an RB then that guy has to have something really special about his game. Lacey's just "very good" but not special.

Full disclosure: I would also not take Mark Ingram, Knowshon Moreno, Beanie Wells, or Donald Brown in the first round.

Well, the fact that he's playing behind 5 legit NFL prospects on the OL makes looking at stats sort of misleading.

But the reason I wouldn't take him in the first round is the lack of long speed. If I'm spending a first round pick on a non-premium position, I want that guy to be a difference maker, and for an RB that involves hitting home runs from time to time when you get to the open field. Lacey's a solid singles hitter (he'll get you the yardage that's blocked), but he's not going to run away from people in the open field or make people miss in space so I wouldn't spend a first on him. First round picks are really valuable, and RB is a non-premium position so if I'm spending a first round pick on an RB then that guy has to have something really special about his game. Lacey's just "very good" but not special.

Full disclosure: I would also not take Mark Ingram, Knowshon Moreno, Beanie Wells, or Donald Brown in the first round.

I'll agree that a back picked in the first round should be able to make some big plays, but I think Lacy can make plenty of them. Looks to me like he's sure-fire 4.4's, low-mid 4.4's likely. Maybe even 4.3's, though as I said before he seems like he would perhaps be a little slow out of a 3-point. At the very least, on the field I think he looks better in many respect than Richardson. Point taken about the O-Line, but I think his physical tools shine through on tape enough to not consider that a huge problem.

I'll agree that a back picked in the first round should be able to make some big plays, but I think Lacy can make plenty of them. Looks to me like he's sure-fire 4.4's, low-mid 4.4's likely. Maybe even 4.3's, though as I said before he seems like he would perhaps be a little slow out of a 3-point. At the very least, on the field I think he looks better in many respect than Richardson. Point taken about the O-Line, but I think his physical tools shine through on tape enough to not consider that a huge problem.

He's not going run in the 4.3's...and I be shocked if he got in the high 4.4 or low 4.5 range. And even if he does how much would it actually change things? You just have to watch him to realize he's not a fast/dynamic back, I don't think running a fast 40 would change that. It was the same with Kendall Wright when he ran a 4.7 or something, cause he obviously wasn't a 4.7 guy.

He's not going run in the 4.3's...and I be shocked if he got in the high 4.4 or low 4.5 range. And even if he does how much would it actually change things? You just have to watch him to realize he's not a fast/dynamic back, I don't think running a fast 40 would change that. It was the same with Kendall Wright when he ran a 4.7 or something, cause he obviously wasn't a 4.7 guy.

I'd be shocked if he wasn't in that range, to be honest. And I think he's absolutely a dynamic back. He's agile even for someone not his size and very fluid. He's also way above his listed 220, making whatever speed, agility, etc he has more impressive.